Car-step.



EATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

J. F. MYERS.

UAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED MAYG. 1905.

- To aZZ whom it may concern:

.unrrn earns PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.-

' application filed May 6, 1905- Serial No. 259,166

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. MYERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hiawatha, in the county of Brown and State of Kansas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Car-Steps, of which thefollowing isaspecification. 3

The invention relates generally to an im-' provement in car-steps, andparticularly to an extensible step designed for an adjustable connectionwith t step.

- merals of reference designate like parts step and connecting parts.

The main object of the invention is the production of an extensiblecar-step designed for slidable and adjustable connection with theordinary car-step and adapted when in lowered position to serve as anadditional or lower step for the convenience of passen ers.

The inventionin its preferred form wi I be described in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carplatform, illustrating theapplication thereto of my extensible car-step. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview of the platform, illustrating the rear elevation of my improvedextensible Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the ordinary carsteps, showing my extensible step connected therewith and in closedposition.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like nuthroughout the specification,1 represents a car-platform, from the opposite ends of which depend theusual steps 2, supported in hangers or side frames My improvedextensible step comprises a treadsplatform a, secured at the lower endof slide-bars 5, the upper ends of which bars are connected bytransverse bar 6. The slidebars are movably connected with the rear faceof the steps proper, as shown. By preference suitable filler-blocks aremanipulated to fill up the rear face of the step-carriages to provide astraight inclined surface to receive the slide-bars, each of saidfillerblocks being preferably provided with a strap 8, centrally bent toform a guideway 9 to receive the slide-bars. The guides 9 are ar rangedin alinement to receive the slide-bars, so that in the. operationdesired said bars move vertically with relation to the steps proper toprotect the extensible step below the steps proper or to draw the samein contact with the lower step.

'leverprojects beyond one of I I ing the lever in adjusted position. eordinary railway car A lever lO is pivotally connected to one ofthestep-hangers 3, as at 11, being centrally enlarged at 12 and formedwith a longitudinal slot 13' to receive a pin 14, projecting laterallyfrom the cross-bar 6, connecting with slide-bar's 5. The handle end 15of the 3 for convenience in operation, said step hanger being providedwith means f3); seen;-

3 P erence I prefer to provide a tooth-bar 16, terminally secured withthe step-hanger and spaced therefrom intermediate its end. The leveroperates between said bar and step-hanger, and the bar is provided witha series of teeth 17, arranged to receive and en age said lever, theteeth being formed to hold the lever against downward movement withoutinterfering with its convenient upward movement. Guide-bars 18 aresecured to the respective ends of the extensible step 4, beinglongitudinal]; slotted at k9 to engage pins 20, projecting om. the outerthe step-hangers side of said step-hangers 3, whereby the .ex-

tensible step is effectively guided in oper tion.

In operation the lever 10 is suitably manipulated to elevate or lowerthe slide-bars 5, and thereby project the extensible step below the laststep of the usual series or drive said extensible step into contact withsaid last step. The arrangement of the slide-bars 5 is such that whensaid extensible step is not in operative position, as illustrated in Fi3, it will rest snugly against the lower surface of the'last step oft-heseries proper without. projecting portions, whereby it is normallysupported entirely out of the way. By engaging the lever with thedcsired tooth 17 of the bar 16 the step 4.1nay be supported at anydistancebelow the last step of the series, permitting the extensiblestep to be adjusted in accordance with the varying height of thetrack-platforms. The slide-bars 5 project transversely beneath and arecoextensive with the full width of the extensible step 4, whereby saidstep is effectively supported against possibility of disconnection.

I do not desire to limit myself to the prcvious construction hereindescribed and shown, and various modifications and changes therein maybe made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It may be found desirable to operate the,

lever 10 from the car-platform, in A which event said lever may beconnected through the medium of a link 21 to the arm of a rightanglelever 22, pivotally supported on the car-platform and arranged foroperation to adjust the step, as clearly shown in dotted outline in Fig.1.

it is to be understood, of course, that while I have shown and describedmy adjustable step in connection with railroadcar it is evident that itis, equally applicable to motor-cars, automobiles, street-cars,

coaches, and in other situations in which an extensible step isdesirable.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with carstep's, of an additional tread, slide-barsconnected to said tread and adjustablyconnected with the steps, aslotted lever pivotaliy and slidably connected with said slide-bars, anda toothbar arran ed to engage and lock said ste -hangers, and arrangedto engage and loc said lever in adjusted position, and guide-rodsconnected with the ends'of the tread and slid ably enga ing thestep-hangers.

In testimony whereo I affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

Y JOHN F. MYERS. Witnesses:

H. H. BENFER, GEQM. DAVIS.-

a slotted lever connected with said slide-bars, a'tooth-bar on one ofthe.

